It's the Final Countdown

Well 2 weeks today it will all be over, and I will hopefully have ran a good 100km and qualified for the Worlds in September.

Since Barry, training has been going well, and this week things couldn't have been better. It's nice when things go to plan and you hit training targets - it gives you confidence that things are on track.

I completed my last long run yesterday - a 20 miler along the Manifold Valley - and really enjoyed it. It was lovely to get out of the city and to breathe in that fresh country air. Then today I did the second leg in the Stafford 20 relays - 6 miles in just over 37 minutes, not bad considering I'd done the long one yesterday.

Things are now starting to wind down, and I guess I need to get mentally prepared for the 100k over the next couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to it, and just hoping that I can avoid the lurgy and any injuries between now and then.

Comments

Crown King Scramble 50km

The Crown King Scramble 50km was everything I expected it to be, and more. With great organisation, a tough course, outstanding scenery and lots of jolly good fun - and the fact that I finished soaking wet with sweat with salt stains across my face and all over my clothes, covered in dust and dirt from head to toe, absolutely starving and in desperate need of an ice cold beer, with tired, heavy legs but a big smile on my face - they were all sure signs of a damn good race. The race started at 6am alongside the shores of Lake Pleasant just as the sun was about to pop its head above the nearby mountains. The air was still quite cool although it was certain to warm up as the morning went along, with temperatures well in to the mid 80's expected later on in the day. The atmosphere at the start was a mixture of nervous excitement and anticipation as we all knew what lay ahead - 50km or 31 miles of uphill running, climbing from around 1500 ft at Lake Pleasant to nearly 6000 ft in...

Tackling the Iron Horse Ultra - 100-miles :)

Training leading into the Iron Horse Ultra had gone well, and even though I knew that getting close to my course record of 21 hours was quite ambitious, I honestly thought that I would be able to do if I had a good day But those of us that are runners will know that whilst running is a physical sport, there is also a mental element to running well, especially when it comes to racing those longer distances. It was the mental side that let me down this time, although it wasn't during the race that I struggled but rather the weeks leading up the race itself, and in hindsight the signs were there that I wasn't going to be able to perform quite as well as I was hoping. Let me explain .... I like to think that for the most part, I am a good person, and I treat people with the respect that they deserve. Although some things do wind me up in life, I tend to be very laid back and easy going, taking things in my stride and trying not to make a big fuss about things. I'm also an intr...

Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra

Shortly after the Backyard Ultra, a friend posted a link to a trail race that would be taking place at Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area, with the option of competing in the solo 55km race or as a member of a relay team. Unlike all other running events this year, this would be an in-person race capped at 100 runners, and it would strictly follow Covid protocols and local public health guidelines, to ensure the event could still go ahead safely. I desperately wanted to do the race but I wasn't sure whether I would be fully recovered from the BYU to be running a tough and hilly 55k trail race. It would also be taking place towards the end of November which increased the liklihood of freezing temperatures and deep snow which was sure to make things even more challenging. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I found myself signing up and started to look forward to the Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra and Relay :) In the days leading up to the race, we had a fair old dump of snow, and most of my run...

Tales of Trails, Mountains and Rocky Roads

Search This Blog